When the press refers to the Lubavitcher Rebbe as the “King Moshiach,” many people reasonably ask why we need to identify the Moshiach. Won’t everyone recognize him when he comes? This question is also asked by faithful Jews who eagerly await the redeemer every day.
The answer is straightforward: if someone in a family is gravely ill, wouldn’t the family members strive to find the best doctor? Similarly, the Jewish people have been suffering in exile for nearly 2000 years. Therefore, isn’t it natural for Jews to deeply desire to find the person who will bring complete and final Redemption to the world?
Rambam, in his book of laws, lists the signs by which we can recognize the Moshiach, the redeemer. These include lineage, behavior, and actions. If someone exhibits these signs, he fits the criteria of the Moshiach. After this, a new stage in the Moshiach’s status begins. These signs answer those who ask this common question. Recognizing these signs is an inseparable part of the faith in the coming of Moshiach — identifying him before his final revelation and victory.
To better understand this, let’s consider an example from our lives. Imagine you are at the airport meeting your childhood friend whom you haven’t seen for many years and whose appearance you do not precisely know. You hold a small sign with his name. He has given you his description in a letter, so you scrutinize the faces of passing people to determine if they match the description you have.
Similarly, we stand with a flag that reads “Moshiach” and eagerly await the Rebbe.